Dispatch-tube system



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H. G. U NDERWOOD. DISPATGH TUBE SYSTEM.

No. 524,006. Patented Au '7, 1894.

UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT e. UNDERWOOD, or YONKERS, NEW YoRK, ASSIGNOR TO THE.

COLLIN S AUTOMATIC PNEUMATIC SWITCHING TUBES COMPANY, OF NEW JERSEY.

DISPATCH-TUBE SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 524,006, dated August'7, 1894.

Application filed December 19, 1892- Serial No. 455.674. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT GEORGE UN- DERWOOD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and aresident of the city of Yonkers, in the county ofWestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprove- I ments in Dispatch-Tube Systems,-of which the following isa'specification. v

This invention relates to tubes through which carriers are dispatched bypneumatic pressure, suction or other suitable motive force, and has forits object to prevent collisions between carriers either at the junctionof tubes or elsewhere in the system, and consists of the improvementshereinafter more specifically described and claimed.

The preferred forms of my device are shown in the drawin gs,in all ofwhich drawings similar letters and figures indicate corresponding parts.

Figures 1 and 9 are plan views of my improvements in use at thejunctionof two or more tubes, Fig. 1 showing the locking device as applied toagate, and Fig. 9 showing it as applied directly to the sender. Fig. 2is a vertical elevation, partly in section, of the gate in one tube, andFig. 3 a vertical elevation, partly in section, of'a device in the othertube for closing said gate. ,Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, avertical'elevation, partly, in section, and a plan of the device forlocking the gate. Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively, a vertical elevation,partly in section, and a plan of my improved device for retardingcarriers. Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section of the tube A, takenthrough t Fig. 6 and Fig. 10 is a sectional View of one form of sender.

In the apparatus shown in the drawings, A is a main tube and B a branchtube.

I is a gate for closing the branch tube B, situated at a suitabledistance from the junction of the tubes B and A. The arm I of the gateissecured into the slot of the lever arm H as shown in Fig. 2. The armsH and h are secured together or made integral with each other, andpivoted as shown in Fig. 2 so that as they swing on the pivot, Hislowered or raised, thus closing or opening the gate I. A spring k isfastened tothe end of h, and tends therefore to open the gate I.

The arm H and the gate I are normally held down and closed by means ofthe latch F.

G is a rod attached to the upper end of the latch F and having a handleas shown in dispatched through the system.

Then the handle G is pulled by the operator it releases, the arm H fromthe latch F and the spring 71. opens the gate I. The operator can .theninsert the carrier into the sender X and dispatch it through the tube.The'latch F has an arm b made integral with it, and a spring fwhich'tends to throw the latch F toward the arm H.

Inthe main tube A at a suitable distance from the junction, preferablyat a considerable distance therefrom compared to the location of thegate I in the branch tube, a finger 0 depends or projects down slightlyinto the tube A as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. At its upper end the finger Ois secured to the lever o. To one end of the lever c is pivotallysecured an arm D, and to theother end n as shown in Fig. 4.. The arm Dhas at its farther. end an enlarged portion E shown clearly in Figs. 1and 2. The finger O'is normally' held by the spring n so that itprojects slightly into the tube A. In this position the enlarged end Eof the rod D lies back aspring and beyond the arm I). When a carrierpasses through the main tube A it forces the finger C upward, andthrough the lever c, pulls the rod D forward until its enlarged end E ispulled under the arm I). In this position E prevents the latch F frombeing pulled by the arm G off from the lever H, ,and thus locks the gateI in its closed position. The

end E is'held in this position by'm'eans of the catch at on thebell-crank N shown in Fig. 5. The bell-crank N is pivoted at its center,and the catch n is heldagainst the lever 0 by means of the spring n atthe opposite end of the bell-crank N. To this same end of the bell-crankis fastened an arm 0 which connects. with a short arm 1) keyed uponashat't p ,upon'which shaft is also keyed a finger P whichprojectsdownward into the tube A in the same manner as the finger O. Thefinger P and the arm 13 are arranged relatively to each other as are thefinger W and the arm w in Fig. 6, so that when a carrier strikes thefinger P it lifts it up, moving the arm 19 and the rod 0 in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 1. This pulls the bell-crank in the samedirection and pulls the catch n away from the lever 0, thus releasingthe latter.

Connected to the lower end of the arm h is the rod K. The other end ofthe rod K is pivoted to the arm L, which latter is keyed upon the shaftZ in the main tube a short distance beyondthe junction of the tubes Aand B. At the other end of the shaft Z is keyed the finger M. The fingerM works on the shaft Z upward and downward. It is normally held out ofthe line of the tube A as shown in Fig. 3. An opening in the upper partof the tube A permits it tobe lowered slightly into the tube. the arm Kis pulled forward by the raising of the gate I.

The mode of operation of the above described form of my improvement isas follows: When the operator at X desires to insort a carrier in thebranch tube B, he pulls the rod G, thus releasing H from the latch F,whereupon the spring k at once raises the gate I and opens the branchtube B for the passage of the carrier. As the arm h is pulled forward bythe spring W, the rod K is likewise pulled forward, thus, through theshaft 1 throwing the finger M downward into the tube A immediatelybeyond the junction of the tubes A and B. The carrier inserted at Xpasses through the open gate, down the branch tube B and out into themain tube A, there striking and raising the finger M, and thus throughZ, L, the rod K, the arm 72' and the lever B, closing the gate I whichis immediately locked in its closed position by the.

latch F. This is the operation when no carrier is passing down the maintube A. If, however, before the operator pulls the rod G,

a carrier has reached and passed the finger O in the main tube A, theoperation is as follows: The carrier raises the finger O, liftingthel'ever c and pulling the armD forwardin the direction of the arrow,thus swinging the enlarged end E of this arm under the arm I).

The catch 11. of the bell-crank N snaps over the notch in the lever cand thus, through the spring n, locks and holds the end E under thearmb. In this positionof E the latch F cannot be released from the arm Heven if the operator pulls upon the arm G. The gate I is thus locked inposition and the operator cannot send a carrier through the branch tubeB. I thus avoid all danger of collision between carriers at the junctionof the tubes A and B. The locking device E is removed from this positionto its normal one in the following manner: The carrier in the main tubewhich has thus locked the gate I strikes the finger P which is placed atsome conven- This is done when ient location at or near the junction ofthe two tubes, forces the finger P upward, and thus-through the shaft 19the lever arm 9, the rod 0, the bell-crank N, pulls the catch 77. awayfrom the lever 0, when the latter is at once restored to its normalposition by means of the spring n throwing the arm D in the reversedirection to that of the arrow, and pushing the enlarged end E out fromand beyond the arm I) of the latch F, and also throwing the finger Odownward again into the tube A. The gate I can now be openedby theoperator through the rod G and the latch F.

I do not limit myself to the precise location of the gate shown in thedrawings or to the precise devices there shown for locking or unlockingor for opening or keeping the same closed, as these may be widely variedby persons skilled in this art without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Where a station is located in a branch tube near its junction with themain or another branch tube, my improved locking device may besoarranged as to lock the senderitself instead of looking a gate in thebranch tube,

and by this locking of the branch tube prevent carriers from beinginserted into the branch tube while a carrier is passing in' the maintube. Figs 9 and 10 show such a form of myimproved device. X is thesender. It consists of a short tube section pivoted at a; where itconnects with the end of the branch tube B by a sort of a ball andsocket joint, so that it can be thrown either into line with the tube Bas shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, or entirely out of connection withit as shown in Fig. 10. The latter is its normal position and in thisposition the solid part 4 of the ball and socket joint closes the end ofthe tube B and effectually prevents the escape of air therefrom. Thesender X has attached to it a plate 3 which, as the sender is shiftedbackward and forward, reciprocates across the end 5 of the extension ofthe branch tube B. Mounted upon this part of the tube B is a bell-crank1, pivoted as shown, pivotally secured at one end to the arm D andcarrying at the other end a pin 2. The plate 3 has one or more holes oropenings through which this pin 2 can pass as shown in Fig. 9. Normallythe pin is withdrawn from the hole or opening in the plate 3, and inthis position of the pin 2 the sender X can be opened and closed atwill, and carriers can be dispatched down the tube B. When the carrierin the tube A strikes the finger C, it pulls the rod D in the directionof the arrow, Fig. 9, as before described, and through the bell-crank 1pushes the pin2 into the hole in the plate 3. This locks the sender andprevents the insertion of a carrier into the branch tube B. The pin 2 iswithdrawn when the carrier in the main tube strikes the finger P, in themanner already described.

The form of sender shown in Figs-9 and 10 is described and claimed in anapplication 1 now pending in the Patent Oifice, filed by me on the thday of November, 1892, Serial No. 453,619, and is therefore not claimedin this application.

My locking device it is evident is capable of use with other forms ofsenders. When the locking device is applied directly to the sender, asshown in Figs. 9 and 10, instead of to a gate in the tube, as shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, the gate and its latch and lever connections and thefinger Maud its rod and lever connections can, as is evident, be alldispensed with. a

Figs. 6 and 7 represent my improved device for preventing collisions atplaces in the main or branch tubes other than at the j unction of suchtubes. R is a finger which I preferably make of considerable length sothat the blow of the carrier upon it will be diminished in force; 1t ispivoted at its upper end in an enlarged portion Z of the casing as shownin Fig. 6, and projects downward into the tube A.- S is a spring, T is ashort pivoted arm lying upon and across the finger R. The spring S isheld normally upon and over the arm T. In this position ofthe spring S,it bears down with some weight upon the finger R through the arm T, sothat a carrier is obliged in passing through the tube A to lift thefinger R against the weight of the spring S. By this means its progressis somewhat retarded. Ordinarilythe spring S occupies the position shownin the dotted lines in Fig.7, where its bearing end rests upon thestandard If and not at all upon the arm T, and "therefore there is noweight upon the finger R. This finger R is light and is loosely pivotedso-that in this position a carrier .lifts it very readily and is notappreciably retarded inits course. As the finger R is thus forced upwardby the carrier, it carries upward with it the loosely pivoted arm Tuntil, at nearly the highest point of its motion, the latter strikesagainst the spring S and raises itslightly from the standard t,whereuponthe spring 8 forces the spring S over into the positionshown in fulllines in Fig.7, where its full weight bears upon the finger R. Ifanother carrier is immediately behind the first one, it will be retardedby this weight upon the arm R so that collision between it and thepreceding carrier will thus be avoided. At a suitabledistance farther onin the tube, a second finger W projects slightly into the tube A. It ispivoted to a short arm w in the manner shown in Fig. 6. The free end ofthe ammo is pivoted to a rod V, the latter at its other end beingpivoted to the bell-crank 8. At the end of the other arm of thebell-crank, the roller 8' bears upon the side of the spring S. When thefirst carrier strikes finger W itpulls the rod V forward, throwing thebell-crank into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.7,

and forcing the spring S into the position shown in dotted lines in thesame figure.- The fingerR has now no weight upon it, and the nextsucceeding carrier to strike it will not be retarded inits passagethrough the tube.

When the spring S is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, itis held in this 'position by a slight depression in the standard tasshown in Fig. 8. From this depression it is lifted by the next carrierwhen it raises the finger R and the arm T.

The fingers R can be placed at suitable distances apart or whereverneeded in the main and branch tubes of the system, and the fingers W canbe placed at suitable distances from said finger R. In this waycollisions can be effectually avoided in any one or more tubes of thesystem.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a dispatch tube havinga branch tube, a finger inone tube adapted to be struck by carriers, a sender on the other tube,adevice for locking said sender, rod and lever connections between saidlocking device and said finger whereby, when the finger is struck by acarrier, the sender will vbe locked so that carriers cannot be insertedtherein, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a dispatch tube having a branch tube, a finger inone tube adapted to be struck by carriers, a sender on the other tube, adevice for locking said sender, rod and lever connections between saidlockin g device and said finger whereby, when the-finger is struck byacarrier, the sender will be locked so that carriers cannot be insertedtherein, a second finger in said first'mentioned tube, rod and leverconnections between it and said first finger and locking device soarranged that-when said second finger is struck bya carrier the senderwill be unlocked, substan tially as set forth.

3. In combination with adispatch tube having a branch tube, a gate inone tube, alatch to hold said gate closed, a projecting finger in theother tube, and a rod having an enlarged end and connected with saidfinger and-said latch whereby, when said finger is struck by a carrier,the enlarged end of said rod will lock the latch and gate, substantiallyas shown and described.

4. In combination with a dispatch, tube having a branch tube, a gate inone tube, a proj ecting finger in the other tube, a rod for looking saidgate when said projecting finger is struck by a carrier, a fingerprojecting into the'tube beyond said gate and adapted to be struck bycarriers passing through the tube containing the gate, and connectingarms and levers between saidfinger and gate whereby the latter is closedwhen said finger is struck bythe carrier, substantially as shown anddescribed. p

5. In combination with a dispatch tube having a branch tube, a gate inone tube, a projecting finger in the other tube, a rod for looking saidgate when said projecting finger is struck by a carrier, a catch forholding said finger and rod in their locking position, a second fingerin said other tube,

rod and lever connectionsbetween it and said catch whereby said catch isreleased and said first finger and locking rod are permitted to returnto their normal positions when said second finger is struck by thecarrier, substantially as shown and described.

6. In combination with a dispatch tube having a branch tube, a gate inone tube, a proj ecting finger in the other tube, a rod for looking saidgate when said projecting arm is struck by a carrier, a catch forholding said finger and rod in their locking position, a spring forreturning them to their normal positions, a second finger in said othertube, rod and lever connections between itand said catch whereby saidcatch is released and said first finger and locking device are forced bythe spring back to their normal positions when said second finger isstruck by the carrier, substantially as shown and described.

7. In combination with a dispatch tube having a branch tube, a gate inone tube, a projecting finger in the other tube, a lever arm to whichsaid finger is secured, a rod pivoted to one end of said lever having anenlarged end for locking the gate, a spring fastened to the other end ofsaid lever to hold said finger and locking rod in their normalpositions, a spring catch for holding said finger and rod in theirlocking position, a second finger farther on in the same tube, rod andlover connections between it and the catch whereby when said secondfinger is struck by the carrier, said catch is released and the firstfinger and rod are returned to their normal positions and the gate isunlocked, substantially as shown and described.

8. In combination with a dispatch tube having a branch tube, a gate inone tube, a latch -for holding the gate in one position, a spring forreturning it to the other position, a projectin g finger in the othertube, and a rod connected with said finger for locking said gate whensaid finger is struck by the carrier, substantially as shown anddescribed.

9. In combination with a dispatch tube having a branch tube, a gate inone tube, a latch for holding the gate closed, a spring for opening saidgate when said latch is released, means for releasing said latch, aprojecting finger in the other tube, a rod connected with said fingerfor locking said gate when said finger is struck by the carrier,substantially as shown and described.

10. In combination with a dispatch tube having a branch tube, a gate inone tube, a latch for holding the gate closed, a spring for opening saidgate when said latch is released, a rod for releasing said latch, aprojecting finger in the other tube, a rod connected with said fingerfor locking said gate when said finger is struck by the carrier,substantially as shown and described.

11. In combination with a dispatch tube having a branch tube, a gate inone tube, a lever connected with the gate for opening and closing it, aspring latch adapted to hold said lever and keep the gate closed, aspring connected with said lever adapted to open said gate, a rodconnected to thelatch .to release the same, a projecting finger in theother tube, a rod connected with said finger for locking said latch whenthe projecting finger is struck by the carrier, substantially as shownand described.

12. In combination with a dispatch tube having a branch tube, a gate inone tube, a lever connected with the gate for opening and closing it, aspring latch adapted to hold said lever and keep the gate closed, aspring connected with said lever adapted to open said gate, a rodconnected to the latch to release the same, a projecting finger in theother tube, a rod connected with said finger for locking said latch whenthe projecting-finger is struck by the carrier, a second fingerprojecting into either tube beyond the gate adapted to be struck bycarriers passing through the tube in which the gate is located, rod andlever connections between it and the lever connected with the gate,whereby when the said finger is struck by said carriers the gate will beclosed, substantially as shown and described.

13. In combination with a dispatch tube having a branch tube, a gate inone tube, a lever connected with the gate for opening and closing it, aspring latch adapted to hold said lever and keep the gate closed,aspring connected with said lever adapted to open said gate, a rodconnected to the latch to release the same, a finger M adapted to bestruck by carriers passing through the tube in which the gate islocated, rod and lever connections between it and the lever connectedwith the gate, whereby when the said finger is struck by said carriersthe gate will be closed, the finger O, a lever arm to which said fingeris secured, a rod pivoted to one end of said lever having an enlargedend for locking the gate, a spring fastened to the other end of saidlever to hold said finger and locking rod in their normal position, aspring catch for holding said lever, finger and rod in their lockingposition, a second finger farther on in the said tube, rod and leverconnections between it and the catch whereby when said second finger isstruck by a carrier said catch is released, and the finger O and rod arereturned to their normalpositions and the gate is unlocked,substantially as shown and described. i j

14. In a dispatch tube a pendent arm or finger and a spring normallywithdrawn from said finger but adapted to be moved by the carrier so asto bear upon said finger to retard the progress of a succeeding carrier,substantially as shown and described.

15. In a dispatch tube a pendent arm or finger, a movable spring andmeans automatically actuated by carriers for throwing the same upon oron. from the arm or finger, substantially as shown. and described.

16. In a dispatch tube a pendent arm or finger, a movable spring adaptedin one position spring S, pivoted at one end and having its free endmovable so as to be adapted to press either upon. rod T or standard 2?,spring s for holding spring S upon rod T, bell-crank s having one endadapted to press upon spring S, rod V connected to the. other end ofbellcrank 8, arm to of bell-crank W connected to rod V, and pendent armW adapted when struck by a carrier to force spring S off from rod T andupon standard 25, substantially as 2c set forth.

HERBERT G. UN DERWOOD.

' Witnesses:

Huco J. WEBER, EDWIN SEGER.

